First Impressions of Moscow

Iran, Russia, China – these countries often have complex images abroad, especially in the West and particularly in the US. While these perceptions aren’t baseless, they tend to be exaggerated, giving a skewed view of what these places are truly like – not in terms of politics, but in terms of the people, cities, and culture. Admittedly, I had preconceptions of Russia before arriving in Moscow, but after two weeks, I’m thoroughly impressed.

The standout feature for me is the exceptional quality of public infrastructure and services here. The metro system is organized, beautiful, and affordable, with trains running reliably every few minutes. Then there are the parks that are plentiful and mesmerizing. I’ve only seen a few and am truly excited to see the even grander ones. Even the abundance and creativity of design in public playgrounds is impressive.

Navigating Moscow can definitely take time, but walking amidst the captivating city sights, public parks, and terrific metro system is a far cry from being stuck in traffic for an hour in other metropolitans.

My exploration has been limited to Moscow and there is far more for me to see of it. Yet, I can say with this is a truly impressively well designed city.

I hope to share more from my time here with you soon. Feel free to shoot any questions my way.

Wishing you a joyful weekend.

Naser